The InterVarsity news releases and news links on this page offer information on the great variety of ways InterVarsity works with students and faculty on U.S. college campuses. We also offer in-depth background information on two priority issues: InterVarsity's concerns about access for its chapters on college campuses and InterVarsity's Urbana Student Missions Convention, which was held at a new location in December 2006.
InterVarsity Communications Director Scott Wilson at 608/443-3763
Urbana
In 2004 InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA announced a new location and the beginning of an exciting new era for one of its signature events, the triennial North American Student Mission Convention, held since 1948 on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Urbana, as it's come to be called, is one of the longest-running, distinctive events of modern evangelical Christianity. In 2006 Urbana was held at a new location, in the shadow of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.
News releases about Urbana 06, issued in advance of the convention and during the convention, are listed below. News Releases for Urbana 09, also to be held in St. Louis, are being posted on this page as well as on our Urbana News Releases page. Audio, which is free for use by radio and other media, is posted on our Urbana audio page. Additional information about Urbana 06 can be found at www.urbana.org.
Access Issues
InterVarsity believes members of its chapters should have the same rights as members of other student organizations. We filed action in federal court on October 3, 2006, on behalf of students involved in InterVarsity at the University of Wisconsin-Superior after the chapter was derecognized. We were also concerned about the August, 2006, disaffiliation of our chapters on the campus of Georgetown University. In 2002 InterVarsity filed suit against Rutgers University to defend the rights of our student chapter. Concerns have been resolved without confrontation on other campuses, such as at the University of Michigan. We are pleased to report that the UW-Superior, Georgetown University, and Rutgers University situations were agreeably resolved and that students in those chapters will continue to be able to be a recognized part of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
